Rolls-Royce selects SLM Solutions’ SLM®500 quad-laser machines for next stage additive manufacturing industrialization.

Raymax Lasers in Sydney are pleased to announce their partner, SLM Solutions Group, Lübeck, Germany have supplied Rolls-Royce with SLM®500 quad-laser machines to help develop its Additive Layer Manufacture Capability. The machines will play an important role in helping Rolls-Royce in the competitive adoption of additive layer manufacturing for aerospace components.

SLM Solutions focuses solely on metal additive manufacturing technology and pioneered multi-laser machines. This years-long experience mastering multi-laser optics, together with their patented bi-directional recoating mechanism makes selective laser melting systems the most productive on the market. With four lasers enabling build rates up to 171 cm3, the SLM®500 serves as the flagship metal 3D printer for high volume processes while offering automated, closed-loop material supply, recovery and sieving to minimize operator handling of metal powder.

Speed and safety are common requirements, but aerospace is a challenging environment for manufacturing because of the rigorous certification process that requires a reliable, high standard of part quality.

Rolls-Royce required multi-laser systems to meet both their productivity demands and maintain rigorous quality controls previously established. This also led them to adopt the four laser SLM®500, the first quad-laser machine introduced to the market in 2013. Essential to their selection of SLM Solutions as a supplier was the control of inert gas flow to maintain a controlled working atmosphere across the build chamber.

Gas flow and control within the multi-laser machine was rigorously investigated by the Rolls- Royce team because of its direct correlation to build quality, and the sintered wall gas flow of the SLM Solutions’ machines provided optimal results in a compact footprint for their needs.
With an eye forward SLM Solutions has included Rolls-Royce as a beta customer for machine accessories to cooperate on future developments.